Click a letter to see a list of conditions beginning with that letter.

Click 'Topic Index' to return to the index for the current topic.

Click 'Library Index' to return to the listing of all topics.

Shellfish Allergy Diet for Children

General guidelines for shellfish allergy

The key to an allergy-free diet is to avoid giving your child the foods or products containing the food to which he or she is allergic. The items to which your child is allergic are called allergens.

A shellfish allergy is an abnormal response of the immune system to the proteins found in shellfish. People allergic to one type of shellfish are often allergic to other types. To avoid foods that contain shellfish proteins, it is important to read food labels.

For foods regulated by the FDA, the federal Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act (FALCPA) requires food labels list shellfish in the list of ingredients of products that contain shellfish. Some manufactures voluntarily include statements such as "may contain shellfish" or "may be made in a facility that processes shellfish."

The lists below may not contain all food and personal care products that could contain shellfish, they can help guide your decisions. It is up to you to carefully read all food labels.